STEPPING INTO THE UNKNOWN - The Central American Immigrant Crisis

The Central American crisis is another spanner in the works for the 11m illegal immigrants in the US, including some 55,000 of whom are Irish, hoping for a path to citizenship.

THOUSANDS of Central American children, fleeing to the US for sanctuary, are presenting President Barack Obama with a growing crisis that is also dampening any lingering hopes of an immigration reform deal this year that would benefit Irish illegals.

It has been a rollercoaster year for the 11m illegal immigrants in the US, some 55,000 of whom are Irish. Hopes had been high that the Republican-led House of Representatives would match an historic senate deal a year ago that offered illegals a path to citizenship. That hasn’t happened and now the Central American crisis is another spanner in the works.